Friendsgiving 7.0 - The Prize!
Diana Lynch, roommate and girlfriend of Mart Belden, carefully slid her new wool cape across her shoulders then turned to the full-length mirror that was mounted behind the door. She pulled the hood up, then pushed it off. She fastened the top buttons then tied the small bow at the neck, pleased with every facet of the garment.
“This looks perfect, just like I thought it would. And I know it will be nice and warm.” She frowned slightly. “I just hope I don't get it dirty with any of our activities today but I just couldn't wait to wear it.”
Diana gently stroked the embroidered design that graced the sides of the indigo blue cape. She had fallen in love with it when she had visited an alpaca farm in a small town on Lake Michigan. Even though the cape had cost a fair amount in comparison to the salary she earned as an art teacher at the Sleepyside Elementary School, she still couldn’t resist the splurge.
“While others brought home sweatshirts and mugs, I brought this.” She twirled around, causing the cape to flair out slightly. “And I love it.”
She recalled the exciting trip that had occurred as the summer had started to fade. The Bobwhites and members of their families had traveled to a small town on Lake Michigan for Trixie and Tad’s destination wedding. She giggled inwardly when she remembered Mart’s horror at his sister’s plan for such an event.
“A destination wedding to Michigan?” He had grabbed at his short blond hair. “Aruba. Sure. Paris. Mais, oui. Cancun? Si, si. But Michigan?”
Yet in the end, the wedding had turned out to be a beautiful affair. Trixie and Tad had exchanged their vows on the beach at sunset. The gentle waves had lapped softly at the sand and the blue, green and aqua shades of the waters glistened as the sun lowered in the sky. A gentle breeze ruffled the tall beach grasses while overhead birds squawked as they swooped down on the shore in search of food.
“Diana! Are you ready?” Mart’s voice interrupted Diana’s pleasant memories.
“Coming.” She took one more look in the mirror, then grabbed her bag.
“Well?” Entering the living room, she spun around. “What do you think?”
Mart studied his girlfriend as she stood in front of him.
“You’re as beautiful as ever, ma belle cherie.” He blew her a kiss.
“Mart!” Diana slapped her hands on her slim hips. “I meant the cape.”
“Oh, yes. Well, that is excessively alluring. And it really augments your violet eyes. You’ll be the belle of the fiesta this afternoon.”
She sighed. “Mart, I think you’re mixing up your languages just a bit. And we’re not going to a fiesta, just a Friendsgiving get-together at Dan’s.”
Mart’s face fell. “Yes, I know we’re not indulging in the customary feast, just appetizers and desserts. How am I going to survive without a complete repast?”
“Try real hard, Mart. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Besides, you loaded up on all those leftovers from your Mom’s at lunch.”
“I am hoping they will sustain me until the next opportunity for nourishment comes along.”
Diana headed to the door then stopped when she saw a packed tote bag.
“What’s that? I thought we were bringing cheese and crackers. Please tell me our cheese plate isn’t in that bag.”
“Oh!” Mart grabbed the bag which boasted the logo from Bings’ Garden Center, an establishment in town that he co-owned and managed. “Perish the thought. I’m just anticipating the potential need for a memorable treat as the festivities begin to diminish. Dan said he has a special activity scheduled, although that thought tends to leave me a bit skeptical and disturbed.”
Diana peeked inside the tote bag then rolled her eyes. “Cracker Jacks? Really?”
“I love Cracker Jacks. Don’t you?”
In response, Diana shook her head then gave Mart a quick kiss. “Sure. Whatever.”
She opened the door and the two left the apartment that they now shared.The apartment had originally been inhabited by Tad and Spider Webster. When Spider left, Mart became Tad’s roommate and when Tad left, Mart persuaded Diana to move in with him. Since the two were in a serious relationship, cohabitation seemed like the logical step. It didn’t take long for Diana to make her own mark on the bachelor pad, painting the kitchen a jaunty navy blue, adding seasonal pillows and throws in the living room, and hanging her own artwork on the walls. As she worked at the nearby Sleepyside Elementary School , Diana had only a short commute, which gave her more time to indulge in her own painting projects. The second bedroom in the apartment, now an art studio, was full of pictures and sketches that Diana had completed and hoped to sell at a small gallery in White Plains.
Driving the distance to Dan’s cabin, Mart and Diana chatted about the Thanksgiving open house at Crabapple Farm. Mart complained again about the zillions of customers that had visited his garden center the day before while Diana recounted the great deals she had found when she and Honey had braved a popular mall in White Plains on Black Friday.
Mart shook his head at the mention of Black Friday shopping and all its craziness. “I didn’t know people actually bought dog Christmas sweaters, but they do. I thought Imogene was loco when she decided to order those, but customers were snapping them up as well as anything else they could get their hands on. But I swear, when I get a dog, I am not dressing it up in an ugly Christmas sweater.”
Diana giggled as a sudden image of Mart and a dog wearing twin Christmas sweaters popped into her mind.
“What?” Mart’s head snapped around.
“Nothing. But I think I’m good with us not dressing up a dog in an ugly Christmas sweater too.”
When the couple arrived at Dan’s place, deep in the Wheeler preserve, Mart grabbed the tote bag and a covered plate, then he and Diana went into the cabin where a loud, raucous discussion was taking place about the upcoming college football playoffs.
“Hi, Bobwhites,” beamed Diana as she entered and spun around. “Honey and Trixie, what do you think of my cape?”
“Gleeps!” said Trixie. “That is so pretty. I wish I had gotten one too.”
Honey stared at her friend. “What? Don’t tell me you’re getting girly now in your marital bliss.”
Trixie frowned at her friend. “Girly? Me? Probably not. But just think how much time I could save if I had one.”
“I don’t get it,” puzzled Honey.
“I wouldn’t have to hold onto my sweater when I put a coat on. I absolutely hate it when I almost have my arm through the sleeve, then I lose my grip on my sweater and have to start over.”
“Sure,” nodded Honey. “I can definitely see that with you.” She studied Diana’s garment. “But Diana, that is a beautiful cape.”
Diana took it off and carefully laid it over her arm. “I agree.”
She disappeared into Dan’s bedroom to put it on the bed with the other coats while the conversation in the living room grew to a more fervid pitch. Opinions, growing louder by the minute, flew back and forth among the members of the group.
“Oh come on, Tad,” said Dan as he pushed his dark hair off his forehead. “Stanford has no chance of going to the Rose Bowl. I don’t get how you could possibly even entertain that thought, let alone voice it.”
Tad grinned. “Because it bugs you.”
Next to Tad, Trixie, his wife of three months high-fived him, then grabbed a handful of potato chips.
“At least it’s a beautiful day,” said Diana as she returned to the group. “Thanksgiving was so damp and gray. But now look at the blue sky.”
“I agree with you, Diana,” said Jim. “It’s a perfect day to be out and about in the preserve. Even the short hike here was so pleasant. And the smell of the woods is so quintessentially fall.”
Honey deposited a dish of spinach artichoke dip on the rustic coffee table that sat in front of the couch. “I’m so glad we didn’t have to have dinner together. I mean, I love getting together and sharing a meal but since we’re not doing that then I hope we will avoid the disasters that have happened in the past. This was a good idea, Dan.”
“I do what I can,” he smiled. “Even with that Honey-speak you just put out there.”
“And I love being out here in the middle of nowhere in this cozy cabin.”
Dan tilted his head. “You do remember that we’re basically a half mile from the Manor, right?”
Honey blushed. “You know what I mean.” She waved her arm around the room. “This. The rusticity. The coziness. And no traffic or people.”
Sitting up, Mart replied indignantly. “I’m pretty certain that we are all members of the species of homo sapiens and we are present in this room. Ergo, your last assertion was incorrect.”
Trixie dropped her head in mock defeat. “And here I was hoping you had left your dictionary brain at home.”
Dan continued, “Well, after last year’s fiasco at Jim’s, I decided we simply had to do something different. And so, I have planned a fun afternoon for everybody.”
“What are we going to do?” asked Trixie.
Dan shook his finger at the blond. “No way, Trixie. You’ll find out when everybody else does. Now, let’s dig into all these little dishes. By the way, there is a game on tv. Brian, can you turn it on.”
Brian clicked on the remote and the flat screen tv, positioned against one wall, came to life.
“Oh, look,” groaned Mart. ‘It’s Michigan versus Ohio State. Haven’t we seen enough of Michigan?” He glared at his sister.
“What?” asked Trixie..
“Michigan.” continued Mart. “You know, that tropical, exotic state where you and Tad held your destination wedding,”
Trixie and Tad looked at each other and shrugged.
“I thought it was beautiful,” remarked Trixie.
“Oh, it was,” assured Mart. “Especially the part where a gale hit the area the night before, then the limo couldn’t get down the hill to the parking area at the beach and we all had to roll up our pants and traipse through the sand.”
“Don’t forget the fresh bear prints that we saw, “ reminded Brian. "Those were pretty heart-stopping."
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about those.” Mart looked at his sister. “I rest my case.”
“Mart,” admonished Honey. “First, I beg to differ. And secondly, I can’t believe that was what you are focusing on. Yes, those things happened but I still can’t get over how blue and clear Lake Michigan was, or how gorgeous the sunset was and how breathtaking the beach was during the ceremony. And who can forget that magical moment when two gulls flew into the rays of the setting sun, just as Trixie and Tad said ‘I do.’”
“Yeah, but Michigan? Were there no other beaches available?”
“Hey,” interrupted Tad. “It’s the same beach where my parents got married.” He shrugged. “I think they had pretty good taste.”
“Me too.” Trixie nodded her head in affirmation of Tad’s statement then scooped some spicy hummus onto a pita chip.
“Well, when I get married, I guarantee you that I won’t be dragging everybody to a beach on the Great Lakes.” Mart forcefully dipped a cracker into the artichoke dip.
“Oh?” Honey sat forward and asked in a teasing voice. “And are you planning on getting married anytime soon? Should I be calling my travel agent?”
Mart’s face reddened. “Never mind.” He glanced around the cabin. “Hey, Dan, show me what you’ve done to the kitchen. It was nothing more than a small galley when Mr. Maypenny lived here.”
“My pleasure,” answered Dan. “I thought you’d never ask,”
Dan had spent his high school and part of his college years living in the small cabin with Mr. Maypenny, the gamekeeper of the large Wheeler preserve. At first, Dan was reluctant to be partnered with the man, but he eventually found a serenity in nature that had eluded him when he had lived in the city. In fact, it was while patrolling the trails that he came to the realization that, even though he had his heart set on being a police officer, he really wanted to work with youth, not put them in jail. So he buckled down and earned a sociology degree while attending the local police academy, leading him to his current assignment as a resource officer for the Sleepyside Schools. When Mr. Maypenny passed, the old cabin became Dan’s. Although Dan was satisfied with it, he couldn’t resist enlarging the kitchen and adding a screened-in porch which, when heated with the wood burning stove, provided him with extra living space. And now, the group– Jim, Brian, Honey, Tad, Trixie, Mart, Diana and Dan, plus Jim’s girlfriend, Harper– were all happily chatting, noshing on appetizers and watching the game on the porch. Finally, Trixie flopped back against the couch and announced,
“I’m stuffed. But, gleeps, everything was so, so yummy. Why didn’t we think of doing this before?”
“Because, my younger sibling,” responded Mart. “It seems we prefer to create a backyard inferno or destroy prized cookware and appliances, or demolish mellifluously and meticulously adorned Christmas trees.”
“Huh?” Trixie stared at her brother. “Never mind. I don’t even want to know about those ridiculous words.” She turned her attention to Dan. “So?”
“So what?” asked Dan.
“So, what are we going to do now?”
Dan rubbed his hands together. “I’m glad you asked. Everybody, please get your coats on and prepare yourselves for a fun hike.”
“Through the preserve?” questioned Brian. “What’s so fun about that? Haven’t we done that a million times?”
“But not like this hike.” Dan held the door open as the group filed out of the cabin.
“I really do like that cape,” commented Honey as she and Diana lagged behind the others.
“You wouldn’t believe how snuggly and warm it is, " said Diana. “And to think, I didn’t even want to go to that alpaca farm.”
“But those alpacas were so cute. And it was fun feeding them.” Honey studied the cape as it swung gently from Diana’s shoulders, matching the rhythm of the two friends’ footsteps. “I just might have to get one for myself.” She linked her arm through Diana’s. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
“Why would I mind? I know you’ll love it as much as I do.”
The group ambled along the well-worn path, shuffling and crunching through the brightly colored leaves and soaking up the late November sunshine. Finally, they arrived at a familiar, rickety shack.
“Here?’” questioned Brian. “You brought us to the old schoolhouse? You brought us to the place where you store feed and other supplies? Why?”
“Yes, Daniel,” added Mart. “Need I provide you with the definition of the word fun?”
“Because,” Dan offered the group a small bow, blatantly ignoring Mart. “This is the starting point for the first Annual Friendsgiving Scavenger Hunt.”
“A scavenger hunt!” squealed Trixie. “I love those. What’s the prize?”
“No prize, just an afternoon with friends,” replied Dan. “But I think you’ll really like this one and the way I set it up.”
“Oh?” Trixie’s eyes glowed in anticipation.
Dan quickly outlined the game he had prepared, telling them that inside the small schoolhouse he had hidden a clue. “The successful unraveling of the first clue will lead you to the next one, which will ultimately lead you to the one after that. I think you guys get the picture.”
“How many clues are there?” asked Honey.
“Five,” answered Dan.
“Are we supposed to be in teams?” asked Tad. “Or do we just do this as a group?”
“Teams,” replied Dan.
Mart’s hand shot up. “Diana and I are one team.”
“Of course.” Diana smiled sweetly at Mart. “Who else would I team up with?”
Tad slung his arm across Trixie’s shoulders. “I want the best sleuth in the county on my team.”
Grabbing Harper’s hand, Jim announced, “I have my partner. Since Harper’s a librarian, she knows a lot of random facts which I hope will help us.”
Brian and Honey looked at each other.
“I guess we’re a team,” shrugged Brian. “I hope your decoding skills are up to par.”
“Absolutely.”
Dan then pulled out his phone. “It’s four o’clock. I’m going to assume you’ll all be at the final spot in an hour or so.”
“And what happens when Tad and I win?” grinned Trixie, already glancing around the shack.
Dan rolled his eyes. “Well, when everybody has finally made it back to the cabin, I have a carafe of spiced wine waiting.”
“That’s it?” frowned Trixie.
“What did you expect?” demanded Mart. “One million dollars?”
“Hmm.. That would have been nice.”
“There are no million dollars,” chuckled Dan. “Not even one dollar. Just more of a pleasant afternoon with friends topped off with the mulled wine. However, I should have known that a few of the Bobwhites would want to make this into a marathon event.”
“An afternoon with friends is good too,” Trixie agreed. "And the wine sounds delish.”
“And when we’re done, I brought an extra treat,” announced Mart.
“What?” demanded Trixie.
“You’ll just have to wait to find out.”
“I know what it is,” said Diana slyly.
Mart turned to her. “But you’re not going to tell because you’ve got my back. Right?”
Diana fluttered her violet eyes coquettishly. “Of course. As long as you’ve got mine.”
“You bet I do.” He gave Diana a quick kiss.
“Ahem!” Dan loudly cleared his throat. “That’s enough from the Darts.”
“The Darts?” Diana looked confused.
“Yeah, “ grinned Dan. “The Darts. Diana and Mart. The Darts.”
“Aww, I like that.” She slipped her arm through Mart’s. “We’re the Darts.”
Tad nodded. “Darts, yes. Mianas, no.”
Dan suddenly clapped his hands. “Okay, Bobwhites! Get busy and find your clue. And may the best team be back at my cabin first.”
With that, Dan exited the old shack. There was a nano-second of silence, then the group began tearing apart the old schoolhouse. They shoved heavy feed bags aside, moved the benches, and turned the extra feeders upside down. With it all, good natured teasing and friendly banter passed between them.
As Diana paused to pick some straw off of her cape, she noticed Trixie studying a feed schedule that was pinned to the back of the door. Diana’s eyebrow arched slightly as she watched Trixie walk over to Tad and whisper in his ear. Tad, carefully feeling around a pile of traps, stopped his search and listened intently.
“Hmm. What’s going on?” Diana asked herself. “Did Trixie just find the clue?”
But before Diana could say anything, Tad snapped his fingers and announced,
“I’ve got an idea where we’re supposed to go. Come on, Trixie.” Grabbing her hand, the two dashed out the door.
“What just happened?” asked Mart. “What’d I miss?”
Diana’s eyes narrowed. “I think they found the clue. Trixie was looking at that feed schedule, then she said something to Tad and they left.”
Diana moved to the hanging planner and ripped it off the door. “Look.”
She pointed to a message that was attached to the back of the calendar. “This must be the first clue.” She read aloud:
However, you should never take me home from your local bar.
Brian softly repeated the clue. “But what does it mean? What goes near and far and is at a bar?” He looked at Honey. “You’re the sleuth.”
Honey shook her head. “I have no idea.”
“Ooh, I do,” said Mart. “If you guys listened to Dan carry on about certain things he hated in the preserve, then you would know too. Come on, Diana.”
Mart and Diana left and, within a few minutes the others figured out the clue and took off, slamming the rickety door behind them.
A short time later, Mart and Diana arrived at an old, rusty abandoned car near the edge of the preserve, mired in mud and decaying plants. Sticks and withered, dried leaves covered the large hood and the rotted upholstery showed signs of animal habitation.
“Do you think this is it?” whispered Diana. “ Ugh! I hope not. This car’s a mess. Look at all the rust and dirt. There’s no way I’m touching any part of it. Besides, I don’t see Trixie or Tad.” She inhaled sharply. “Oh no! Do you think they’ve already found the next clue?”
Mart shrugged. “I don’t know but I’m sure this is the right place. I could never figure out why Dan couldn’t get this towed out of here but he doesn’t seem to have much luck with it.”
“Really?” asked Honey as she and Brian stumbled out of the woods and skidded to a stop by the old Plymouth. “Do you see a road nearby? Do you see a way in or a way out? No. And neither does the tow company.”
“Plus, this ground is really marshy,” added Brian.
“Then how did it get here?” demanded Mart.
“Who cares?” snapped Brian. “That’s not the mystery of the day, is it? Now let’s get to work.”
He quickly circled the vehicle, poking into various openings while Mart slid under the engine.
“Oh, Mart,” cried Diana. “You’re going to get all dirty. Please don’t ask me to crawl around on the ground.”
“Don’t worry. You can check out the dashboard. You may find the clue in there.”
As Mart was wiggling out from under the car, Jim and Harper strolled into the small clearing.
“Hasn’t Dan gotten rid of this old heap yet,” asked Jim. “I know it bugs the heck out of him as well as Dad. Only animals belong in this preserve.”
Mart stood up and brushed at his worn jeans. “You’re right, Jim. This vehicle does not belong here. But in the meantime, stop yammering and help look for the clue. Trixie and Tad are way ahead of us.”
“But, Mart,” frowned Diana. “You’re all muddy now. Maybe we should go back to the cabin.”
“What? And let Trixie and Tad win. I don’t think so. I’ll be fine.”
Diana brushed a sticky cobweb off her hands. “I didn’t find anything under the dash. Are you certain this is where we’re supposed to be?”
Mart nodded. “Yes. Think about it. The clue said it goes fast, it goes slow, it goes near and far but you don’t want to take it home from a bar. Ergo'' He pointed to the dilapidated vehicle. “Let’s keep looking.”
“Wait, I’ve found something,” yelled Brian. He reached behind the front grille and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“Open it,” demanded Mart. “And don’t be your usual cautious self.”
Brian stopped and stared at his brother. “Don’t be my usual, cautious self? And what exactly does that mean?”
“We can discuss it later,” said Mart. “Now open it.”
Brian carefully unfolded the piece of paper and read aloud:
When the sun goes down, who likes to hit the hay?
The group looked at each other. Suddenly, Jim grabbed Harper’s hand and took off.
“Where are they going?” asked Mart.
“I don’t know,” replied Brian. “But I know where I’m going, Come on, Honey.”
“Wait for me,” called Mart as he grabbed Diana’s hand.
“Slow down,” protested Diana. “You run much faster than I do. I’m afraid I’m going to trip on something and fall.”
“I won’t let you fall. I promise,” replied Mart. “But we have to hurry or Trixie and Tad will beat us.”
A short time later, Mart, Diana, Brian and Honey, panting and gasping, arrived at the stables on the Wheeler estate. Entering the quiet, dim structure, the group looked around, ignoring the gentle stomping and snorting of the horses that lived in the clean, cozy structure.
“There,” said Honey pointing to a neatly piled stack of hay. “The clue must be in there. Look at that loose hay on the floor. Regan would never allow that. I bet Trixie and Tad have already been here.”
The group began moving the bales around until Honey called out. “Got it!”
She unfolded a piece of paper and read aloud,
I like to go here to seek some cover.
“The next clue is at Crabapple Farm?” puzzled Mart. “In my old bedroom, under one of Aunt Alicia’s quilts?”
Brian stared at his brother. “Yeah, like that makes a lot of sense.”
“But the clue said it’s where I go to seek cover when it’s cold.”
“Try thinking a bit broader, Bro.”
Honey shook her head. “This one’s a puzzler.”
Brian nodded. “I agree. Hmmm.” He pivoted slowly, murmuring, “ Where do we go when the snow flies? Where do we go when the snow flies?”
“The clubhouse?” suggested Diana.
“Maybe. But what does that have to do with the lake?” asked Brian. He looked around. “And where’s Jim? I thought he left ahead of us.”
“Great,” groaned Mart. “Now both teams are going to beat us.”
Diana swatted Mart’s arm. “Stop whining. And now that I think about it, the clue might be referring to the boathouse.”
“Are you sure?” questioned Honey. “Because I don’t think the boathouse is very warm.”
“I think Diana might be right,” said Brian. “And it’s not warm compared to our homes but it was warm after we’d been out skating on the lake. And it makes a lot more sense than Mart’s old bed,” said Brian. “Let’s go.”
The four tore off down the path toward the lake and the boathouse, hopping over the roots and rocks that dotted the path.
“Mart!” yelled Diana. “I just tripped. Can’t you please slow down a bit?”
Mart slowed his pace. “Okay. But we need to catch up to Trixie and Tad.”
Diana sighed loudly. “It’s always the same with you, in a constant competition with your sister. Let’s just enjoy the afternoon.”
“We are. Aren’t we?” Mart’s face held a look of surprise.
“Whatever,” replied Diana.
With their slower approach, Mart and Diana arrived at the boathouse and stepped inside. The late afternoon sun did little to brighten the dim interior, making the search that much more difficult.
“Well, it certainly looks like somebody’s been here,” frowned Mart. “And from the looks of the cushions on the floor, I would say that somebody was Trxie.”
“How do you know it was Trixie?” asked Diana. “What if it was Jim?”
“Have you ever known Jim to leave a mess behind?” asked Mart.
Diana shrugged, then pulled her cape tighter around her throat. “No, I guess not.” She stamped her feet. “Once you’re out of the sun, it gets chilly pretty fast. Let’s go get some of that mulled wine. It sounds delicious. I don’t even care if we win or not.”
“Well, I do,” declared Mart. “We’re smart and I know we can figure out all these clues and win. And Diana, as long as you’re with me, you’ll always come out ahead.”
“Way to practice humility,” remarked Brian. “Why don’t you stop boasting and help us look.”
“We don’t have to,” said Honey. “There it is.”
She pointed to the floor where the clue lay, its font smudged by a muddy footprint. Picking it up, Honey read to the group.
Here a cluck, there a cluck, everywhere a cluck cluck.
“I know,” Mart held up his hand as if a student in school. “It’s in the chicken coop at the farm. It’s gotta be. What else clucks around here?”
“But I thought your Mom wasn’t raising chickens anymore?” Honey carefully stacked the cushions on the overhead shelf.
“She isn’t. But they haven’t gotten around to tearing down the coop yet.” Mart tilted his head toward the family farm. “Who’s with me?”
The group raced to the now vacant chicken coop that was located behind the garage on Crabapple Farm. Opening the door, Mart peered into the darkness.
“There it is,” said Brian, who was looking over Mart’s shoulder.
“Where?” asked Mart.
“Right in front of you.” Britain leaned over and picked up a ripped sheet from the floor. Unfolding it, he read,
But really, being walked all over, isn’t the best.
“What does that mean?” Diana leaned against a crooked fence post. “I’m getting tired. I hope this ends soon.”
“Who greets guests?” asked Mart. “A doorman? A valet? A maid?” He looked at Diana. “I hope the clue isn’t in Harrison’s pocket,” he said in reference to the butler of Diana’s family’s estate.
“No.” Honey shook her head. “That doesn’t even make sense. But what does ‘Being walked over’ mean?”
Diana stood up abruptly. “Duh! It’s a doormat.”
“Of course,” agreed Honey. “But which one? Where?” She gnawed at her bottom lip. “Let’s see. It’s probably not at the main house because we really don’t have a doormat. It’s more like carpeting, well, actually it’s a persian rug.”
Brian nodded. “And I doubt it’s here since we’re already here.”
“And,” Diana pointed toward the western sky where the sun was now quite low, sending out golden and orange rays across the bare treetops. “The sun is getting ready to set. I bet it’s the mat at Dan’s. That way we end at his cabin just in time for some of that wine.”
“And don’t forget, I brought a treat too,” added Mart.
“Then let’s get going,” urged Brian.
The group jogged back up the path toward the Wheeler estate, then followed the twisting and uneven trail that led to Dan’s cabin.
“Mart,” gasped Diana. “I’m sure Trixie, Tad, Jim and Harper have already arrived. Can’t we slow down a bit?”
“No. We might be last but we don’t have to be ridiculously last. Give me your hand, I’ll help you.”
Mart clasped Diana’s hand and dragged her along the gloomy path.
“Slow down,” requested Diana. “It’s kind of dark now and I don’t want to trip.”
Mart held Diana’s hand tighter. “Yes, I can see why you would think that hiking is now the more sage preference but I still want to finish with a flourish.”
“Mart!” admonished Diana. “Just focus on the trail and leave the word salad for later.”
As they approached the cabin, the path zigzagged around a giant oak tree before coming out into the clearing. But as Mart and Diana took the last turn, Mart, in his excitement, sped up, causing Diana to slip on the damp ground.
“Mart!” she cried as she stumbled to her knees then pitched forward, landing in a big pile of wet and decaying leaves. “Oh, Mart! Look! Why did you have to go so fast? You knew I was having trouble keeping up.”
“I thought you were doing all right with the pace of our journey.” Mart stopped and reached for her hand. “Here, allow me to assist you.” He tried to avoid a patch of mud but slipped and inadvertently stepped on Diana’s cape.
“Oops!” After steadying himself, he again reached for Diana.
“Forget it,” she snapped as she slapped his hand away. “I’m better off getting out of this mess by myself. I think you’ve done enough.”
After struggling to her feet, she attempted to brush off the leaves and debris. Looking down at the front of her cape, she gasped when she saw the muddy print of Mart’s sneaker. “My new cape. It’s ruined. I was so afraid this was going to happen. Oh, Mart! Why did you have to rush down that path? You knew I was having a hard time keeping up with you.”
Mart gulped. “I’m sure it will be fine. I bet these leaves will just brush off.”
“They will but what about the mud?” she glared. “Just stop! You’re making it worse. And can’t you, for once, let Trixie win and be okay with it? She was way ahead of us anyway.”
“But, Diana,” began Mart.
Diana held up her hand. “You’re demoted to a mute!! I don’t want to hear anything more. I’m so tired of you and your sister always having to compete against each other. And look what that stupid competitive streak brought you. Nothing but mud and anger.”
Diana brushed at her cape, then stomped toward Dan’s cabin with Mart trailing behind, offering a continuous stream of apologies and promises.
After passing through the door, Diana slammed it shut. She angrily toed out of her leather boots and flung them aside. She combed her fingers through her glossy, dark hair, glaring at the twigs and leaves she pulled out. “Ick!”
“Diana! What happened to you?” asked Trixie. “Did you fall or something?”
Diana gritted her teeth together. “Yes, thanks to Mart.”
“I didn’t do anything,” protested Mart weakly.
Diana whirled around. “Oh, yes you did. You simply had to beat Trixie at this scavenger hunt and ended up shoving me into a pile of muddy leaves.”
Trixie’s mouth dropped open, then she turned to her brother. “You did what?” She reached for Diana’s cape. “Let me help you.”
But Diana stepped back and tightened the wrap around her throat. “No, thank you,” she said tersely. “I think the Beldens have done enough for one day.”
“What’d I do?” squeaked Trixie.
Diana stalked over to the nearby kitchen eating bar, carefully removed the soiled garment and draped it across the back of a chair. Then she took her place by the fire, refusing to meet any of the Bobwhites’ eyes.
“Diana,” Mart knelt down in front of his girlfriend. “I was just…”
“Mart!” said Diana in a stern voice. “I said I didn’t want to hear anymore from you. So just be quiet!”
The mood in the cabin grew tense. Nobody knew what to say so instead the Bobwhites stared at the floor. Even the football game on the tv couldn’t camouflage the sudden change in the mood of the group. And the crackling fire, which had seemed so warm and cozy a few minutes earlier, was now at odds with the mood of the room.
“Hey!” Trixie said brightly. “How about that bag of treats you brought, Mart. Maybe now is a good time to have them.”
Mart shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
Honey piped up. “Trixie’s right. We all need a little snack to get our blood sugar back up.”
Again, Mart shook his head. “No. Not now.”
The somber mood was interrupted by the arrival of Jim and Harper.
“Where have you been?” demanded Honey, her arms folded across her chest. “We thought you were ahead of us.”
“We changed the scavenger hunt to a leisurely stroll through the preserve.” Jim grinned boyishly. “I figured Trixie and Mart would kill anybody who got in their way so we decided to let them have the win.” He looked at the sullen group. “Say, what happened? Did Honey and Brian win instead?”
“No,” scowled Diana. “They did not. But Mart, in his haste to beat Trixie, shoved me into a pile of muddy leaves and …” Unable to finish, Diana quietly fumed.
Jim looked at Mart. “You pushed Diana into a pile of leaves? Why?”
Mart’s face reddened. “I didn’t really push her. We just came around a corner too fast and Diana lost her footing and landed a bit off the beaten path. I was just trying to hurry us along but I guess…” He shrugged. “I’m really sorry, Di. I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
Honey grabbed Mart’s tote bag. “Here, everybody. Take one!” She began handing out the colorful boxes.
“Stop!” yelled Mart.
“Why?” asked Trixie. “Are they booby-trapped or something? Do you want to throw these in the mud too?”
“No. It’s just…I’m not ready.”
“For what?” asked Dan.
Mart shook his head. “Never mind. If you guys insist on having these, I’ll hand them out.”
Mart dug through the tote bag and, after sorting through the individual boxes, distributed them to his friends. When he came to the final box in his hand, he paused then held it out to his girlfriend.
“Diana?”
Diana shook her head. “No, thank you,” she said icily.
“Come on, Di. I bet this will make you feel better. At least get your prize.” Mart looked pleadingly at his girlfriend.
Grabbing the box, she slammed it down on the table next to her. “There! Are you happy?”
“Well, if Diana isn’t going to eat hers, can I have them,” asked Trixie as she swallowed a mouthful of the yummy treat. “I forgot how good Cracker Jacks are.” She reached for the box but before she could touch it, Mart slapped her hand.
“Hey!” cried Trixie.
“Watch it,” cautioned Tad. “That was totally not cool.”
Dropping his head down, Mart rubbed at his eyes with his thumbs and quietly counted to ten. “Okay, everybody. I confess that I acted a bit rashly. I got over excited about the potential outcome of the scavenger hunt. I should have heeded Diana’s pleadings but I didn’t.” He picked up the box of Cracker Jacks that Diana had laid on the table.”
“Please take this, Diana. And I’m really sorry I messed up your cape this afternoon. I’ll either get it cleaned or buy you a new one.”
Diana took the box, but didn’t open it. The rest of the group poured the sweet popcorn into their hands from their own boxes and then stuffed it into their mouths.
“Whoa!” cried Honey. “I forgot about the prize inside.” She tore open the small package. “Look, I got a tattoo!”
“I got one too,” said Trixie who immediately stuck it on her wrist. “What do you all think? Do I look tough with this Cracker Jack tattoo?” She flexed her arms and attempted a menacing sneer.
The rest of the group opened their prizes. Jim and Brian also had tattoos but Harper and Dan had tiny stickers.
“Remember when the prizes used to be something real?” asked Brian.
“What’s unreal about this tattoo?” teased Trixie. “Besides the fact that it washes right off, doesn’t hurt to get and is a picture of the Cracker Jack guy.”
“What about you, Diana?’”asked Mart with a slight quiver to his voice. “Aren’t you going to see if you got a tattoo?”
Diana shrugged.
“Come on, Diana,” said Mart as he knelt in front of her. “Remember the Bobwhite motto. ‘All for one and one for all.’”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “I thought that was the motto for the three Musketeers.”
“I’m pretty sure we used it too.” Mart reached into Diana’s Cracker Jacks and grabbed a few pieces of popcorn and tossed them into his mouth. “This is certainly a delicious snack. Have some.” He poured some caramel corn into her hand, then smiled tentatively as she put it into her mouth.
“Get your tattoo sticker,” urged Trixie. “That way we’ll all be ‘tatted up.’ We’ll be the coolest Bobwhites out there.”
Diana shifted the contents of her box around until she spotted the prize at the bottom.
She carefully pawed through the popcorn and peanuts until she grasped the package. But as she pulled it out, a stunned look crossed her face.
“I don’t think mine is a tattoo, guys,” she said shakily as she looked questioningly at Mart.
“Open it,” he said softly.
Diana ripped open the package and poured a glittering diamond ring into her hand. A hush fell over the group as they all stared at the beautiful ring. Mart took it and reached for her left hand.
“Diana, for the life of me, I can’t remember what I was going to say. But I do know that I can’t imagine life with anyone but you. Saying you complete me is such a cliche statement.” He paused for a second and took a deep breath. “Diana, you are the marshmallows in my bowl of Lucky Charms, the cream filling in my oreo cookies, the heat in my fiery Cheetohs. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Holding their breaths, the rest of the Bobwhites watched anxiously until Diana nodded and allowed Mart to slide the ring, with a round diamond with two small sapphires on either side, onto her finger.
“Mart,” whispered Diana. “It’s beautiful. Where did you find it? I’ve never seen one like this.”
Mart crouched on the floor next to Diana. “Imogene helped me find it. I bought the ring but the sapphires came from an estate. She and I worked on the design and the jeweler in town made it all come together. Do you really like it?”
“I love it. “
“I don’t know about you,” quipped Trixie to Honey as she ate the last of her Cracker Jacks. “But I feel kind of cheated. After all, I only got a stupid tattoo in my box.”
“I think a tattoo is perfect for you, Trixie,” said Mart. “After all, you and Tad tore through all those clues, raced through the preserve, then beat everybody back to the cabin. I would say that’s enough of a prize for you.”
“Mart,” cautioned Diana sternly. “Did you learn nothing today?”
Mart blushed. “Oh, yeah.” He looked at his sister then said with exaggerated politeness, “I’m sorry you didn’t get a diamond ring in your Cracker Jacks and congratulations on your win.” He gave up the pretense. “But I swear, if you even try to get Diana to have a destination wedding in Michigan, I’ll never talk to you again. Ever!”
Trixie smiled sweetly. “Is that a promise?”
“Guys!” admonished Diana. “Since I am now going to be an official member of the Belden family, I get to have a say. And I say no more arguing between you two or I’m going to sit both of you in time-out. We just had an amazing afternoon and you two still want to argue.” She looked at Trixie. “Yes, you and Tad won and you had a lovely wedding on the beach in Michigan.” Then she turned to Mart. “Yes. They had a lovely wedding but there is no way that I would want that. So stop complaining about it.”
Looking at Mart’s stunned face, Diana relented. “Mart. I said ‘yes.’ Let’s focus on our future and not fret about the past.”
“Of course, my perfect and beautiful betrothed.”
Diana raised her eyebrows. “What did you say?”
“My perfect and beautiful betrothed.”
She beamed. At her friends. “My new favorite words.”
“And just wait til you see the vows I write for you, Diana,” gushed Mart. “You won’t know what hit you.”
“As long as you’re not knocking me into a pile of leaves, I think I’ll be okay.”
“This calls for a toast. Let’s get that mulled wine,” said Dan.
After ladling out the fragrant and steamy drink, the Bobwhites held out the mugs.
“To our future,” said Mart.
“To safe travel through the preserve,” added Brian.
“To clean capes,” said Honey.
“To food-themed proposals,” grinned Trixie as she hip-bumped Mart. “That are unrivaled and unparalleled.”
“To less complicated words,” teased Diana.
“To next year’s get-together,” said Tad.
“But where will that be?” asked Diana.
Trixie shrugged. “That’s easy. At our place.”
“But your apartment is so small,” noted Mart.
“Not a problem,” grinned Tad. “Trixie and I are thinking about buying a house. If we do that, we’ll have plenty of room.”
Honey gleefully rubbed her hands together. “Ooh. A wedding and a new house. I’m going to have to stop by the bookstore and stock up on a lot of magazines.”
Diana squeezed Honey’s arm. “And I can’t wait to start looking at dresses.”
Trixie leaned into Tad and whispered, “Thank goodness for Diana and Mart’s wedding. Hopefully Honey and Diana will forget about our house.”
Diana spun around. “I heard that, Trixie. And don’t you worry a bit. I’ve already got some great ideas for colors and decor that I think you’ll really like.”
Trixie sputtered. “But I don’t even have a house yet.”
“When have you ever failed at achieving a goal?”
Trixie shrugged. “So, you have ideas? Like what?”
“We’ll talk,” winked Diana.
“Hey,” interrupted Dan. “With Mart and Diana working on their wedding and Trixie and Tad working on buying a house, what am I supposed to do?”
“That’s easy,” answered Mart. “You get to work on next year’s Friendsgiving.”
“I thought it was going to be at Trixie and Tad’s.”
“Yes, but you have to plan another scavenger hunt, this time with tougher clues so some people in this room, who shall remain nameless, don’t win.”
Sitting on the couch next to Mart, Diana sighed. “What have I just agreed to?” she lamented dramatically.
“You’ve agreed to be my partner forever,” replied Mart.
“Yes, I did,” smiled Diana. “And I can’t wait.”
With that, the group raised the glasses of mulled wine and toasted their futures and promised to have another Friendsgiving the next year that would be even better..
Author notes: Thank you to all who have faithfully followed my Friendsgiving stories. They certainly are fun to write. Thank you to my daughter, Katie, and my sister for their editing skills. Also, a big thank you to Mary N. for all her techinical support. And of course, these stories would not be possible without the original publishing of the Trixie Belden mysteries.
Lucky Charms - breakfast cereal with marshmallow shapes made by General Mills.
Oreos - chocolate creme sandwich cookie
Cheetos - crunchy corn puff snack produced by Frito-Lay.
Cracker Jacks -snack food consisting of caramel corn and peanuts, and a prize.
The disastrous Friendsgiving Feasts referred to were:
Friendsgiving 6.0: Gleeps and Double Gleeps!! -Trixie and Mart try to fix Jim's Christmas tree but end up destroying it instead.
Friendsgiving 5.0 -Mart ruined dishes, serving ware and appliances he borrowed from Moms. Friendsgiving 3.0 - Brian starts a fire in his backyard while trying to deep-fry a turkey. Word count-7571 background tiles from
